Vacuum cleaner attachment



June 17, 1941. Q A Ross 2,246,404

VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 20. 1959 Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STA'IESy PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT Oscar A.. Ross, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 20, 1939, Serial No. 300,411

3 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaner attachments and more particularly to that form for collecting foreign matter b-y partial vacuum from surfaces such as floors, rugs, draperies, etc.

This application forms a continuation in part application of. my parent application Serial No. 79,802, led May 14, 1936, now Patent 2,214,725.

Vacuum cleaner attachments for nozzles now generally employed for the cleaning of floors, rugs, draperies, etc., are made of metal or other hard substance and therefore great care must be exercised to prevent the striliing thereof against furniture, base-boards, walls or other highly finished surfaces to prevent the marring thereof. This undue care requires the employment of highly skilled operators since carelessness in handling said attachments may seriously blemish said furniture, base-boards, Walls or other highly finished surfacesrequiring the re-finishingof the same.

This invention comprehends furnishing vacuum cleaner attachments for vacuum cleaning rugs, floors, draperies, etc., which will prevent the marring or blemishing of highly finished surfaces on furniture or other articles should said l attachment accidently come in contact therewith during said cleaning. This is accomplished by pre-forming a frame-like rigid metal structure having suction inlet and outlet openings and. thereafter embedding said frame-like structure in a plastic resilient housing forming a suctionlike seal between the inlet and outlet openings of said inlet and outlet portions, said housing being formed of a soft, yielding material, thereby preventing the marring of highly' finished surfaces when accidentally brought into contact therewith.

'Ihe invention further comprehends furnishing a vacuum cleaner attachment as hereinbefore described wherein the suction inlet nozzle portion for engaging surfaces to be cleaned is formed of rigid material for more easily passing over said surfaces. One manner of accomplishing this feature comprises in permitting the rigid, frame-like structure to extend beyond said resilient housing at the suction inlet or nozzle end| of the attachment. Another manner of accomplishing this feature comprises in embedding-'the entire rigid metal frame in said plastic material at the suction inlet or nozzle end of said attachment, the portion of said plastic material housing forming the suction nozzle opening being vulcanized to a rigid hardness for more readily passing over surfaces to be vacuum-cleaned.

This invention also comprehends furnishing more eicient coupling between male and female coupling portions of vacuum cleaner attachments, more especially with respect to improving the frictional engagement between said attachments and the preventing of one -attachment from turning with respect to its correlated attachment.

This invention further comprehends the furnishing of an improved rigid connecting tube between vacuum` cleaner attachments and a flexible vacuum cleaner hose, said rigid tube including a flexible and yieldable plastic material covering novelly attached thereto, said covering or housing acting to prevent the marring of, highly finished surfaces when accidentally brought into contact therewith during vacuum cleaning, said rigid tube portion having the male end thereof exposed for purposes of coupling but the female 'end thereof covered by said resilient housing and extending down into the opening therein.

The invention further comprehends furnishing several forms of peculiarly asembled rigid framelike structures or supports onto which resilient plastic material is molded and in which said supports are embedded. Other novel features and advantages will be apparent as the description of the invention progresses and the novel and peculiar structure and features thereof. will be pointed out herein, and wherein:

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawing, andparticularly pointed out in that portion of this instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain distinctive and peculiar features of the device, it being understood that, within the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made, with- `out departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the details of the invention.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred physical embodiment of my invention, and wherein` like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l, is a rear elevational view of one emi bodiment of the invention taken on line I--l of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

and Fig. 4 is a rear elevational View of a modified form of the invention including a modified form of rigid frame or support taken on line 4-4 of Fig. and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the same taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional View showing how the resilient material is interlocked to the fabricated metal frame, and Fig. 7 is a part sectional View of a modified form of attachment coupling portion and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of still another modified coupling portion taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 9, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a coupled assembly including a cleaning attachment, a rigid hand-piece and a flexible hose, and Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified rigid frame onto which the resilient housing is molded as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, attachment I comprising a suction nozzle unit 'suitable for the vacuum cleaning of rugs, draperies, etc., comprises a skeleton or frame-like'unit or support 2 including the dust outlet or coupling portion I9 formed by the juncture of semi-tubular stampings 3 and 4 welded together at 5, said stampings having extensions 6 and 1 secured to nozzle portion reinforcing plates or stampings 8 and 9 in any suitable manner, as for example, by spot welds IIJ. The coupling portion I9 receives a conventional extension tube or hand-piece 5| (Fig. or may receive the male coupling portion of other vacuum cleaner attachments as for example a flexible hose Stampings 0r plate members 8 and 9, are of similar form and include hinge or embracing portions II, bent over reinforcing member or slot shaped Wire I2, preferably formed of metal rod having exposed portions I3 alternating with said embracing portions II. Said embracing portions and slotted member form the suction inlet I5 of said attachment, the spaces I6 between said embracing portions forming bleeder inlets to prevent said attachments from becoming locked to a surface being cleaned. The coupling members 3 and 4 forming the coupling portion I9, connecting portions 6 and 1, nozzle plates 8 and 9 secured to slotted member I2 comprise a pre-fabricated light weight structure or rigid support which is not sealed between the suction inlet and outlet openings of the attachment. For the purpose of forming a seal therebetween, a plastic material resilient cover or housing I1 is molded onto and interlocked with said support against removal, said support being embedded in said resilient housing, said housing may be formed of soft, vulcanized rubber or other suitable plastic material of a yielding nature, said housing comprising a cylindrical outlet or coupling portion I8, the upper or open end of which surrounds the upper end portion or flange of coupling portion I9, providing an annulus having a coupling face arranged to engage the coupling face of a correlated attachment, as for example, hand-piece 5| of Fig. 10. It is to be noted that the cylindrical portion I8 also extends downwardly into the opening of said coupling portion I9. Molded housing I1 further comprises suction nozzle portion 2|, joined to said Cylindrical portion I1 by an intermediate or aring housing portion 24. The wall 22 of said fiaring or housing portion 24 is interlocked with members 6 and 1 and plates 8 and 9, perforations 23-23 acting to assist in said interlocking. Said nozzle portion 2| includes a bead or buffer portion 25,1 interlocked with embracing portions II and spaces I2 as shown in Fig. 6, said bead portion acting as a buffer in the event attachment accidentally engages furniture or other articles or highly finished surfaces during the use thereof,

said bead further acting as a guard for preventing said embracing portion from engaging said furniture, etc,

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 1l showing a modified form of vacuum cleaner 30, including a modied form of rigid support or frame 10. Said frame comprises slotted member or metal loop I2 formed of rigid material preferably metal rod or wire, see Fig. 11 to which one end of rigid reinforcing or connecting members 12, 13 and 16 are secured preferably by welding, said members likewise being preferably formed of metal rod or Wire, the other end of said connecting members being secured to suction outlet coupling member 1I, preferably by welding, said coupling member comprising a cylindrical portion and a flanged portion. Said rigid frame or support 10 is preformed and thereafter embedded in plastic resilient housing or covering 3|, said housing or covering being molded onto said support and interlocked therewith. Resilient housing 3| comprises intermediate or flaring portion 36 molded onto connecting members 12, 'I3 and 16, coupling portion 31 molded onto said coupling members 1I, and nozzle portion 34 molded onto slotted member I2, said last-named member being completely surrounded by said nozzle portion 34. In molding said resilient housing 3| onto said rigid support 10, the portion of said housing extending from the suction nozzle inlet to the suction outlet thereof is made of yieldable material, whereas the rubbing face portion 35, which engages a surface to be cleaned is preferably made of a rigid molded material. This may be accomplished by forming the housing 35 of rubber and vulcanizing the rubbing face portion 35 to a rigid hardness whereas the remainder of said housing is vulcanized to a yieldable hardness. If desired the surface engaging or rubbing face portion 35 may also be formed of resilient plastic material. The coupling portion 31 of resilient housing 35 preferably extends downwardly inwardly of the suction outlet opening for receiving the male end of a correlated tubular attachment as more fully shown in Figs. '1, 8, 9 and l0. The nozzle portion 34 is provided with a slot-shaped opening forming the suction inlet of said attachment.

Referring to Fig. 7 showing a modified form of outlet coupling portion which may be employed on any one of the vacuum cleaner attachments or 30 or at the upper end of hand-piece 5I, said coupling portion comprises metal sleeve portion 52 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the male portion of the correlated attachments inserted thereinto whereby the cylindrical portion 53 formed integrally with the outer cylindrical or sleeve portion 55 will act as the coupling opening independently of engagement of sleeve portion 52. Said sleeve portion 52 is formed with apertures or orifices 54 through which said resilient material extends for joining sleeve portions 52 and 55 and also for interlocking said sleeve portions to rigid sleeve portion 52. Flange portion 58 formed on sleeve portion 52 also acts to prevent relative axial movements of resilient sleeve portions 53 and 55 with respect to rigid sleeve portions 52, said flange portion being interlocked and embedded in bead portion 51 forming the juncture between sleeve portions 53 and 55.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 showing a modified form of outlet coupling portion 60, said portion is similar to coupling portion I9 of attachment I. However, rigid sleeve portion GI is of a larger diameter than the diameter of sleeve portion 3-4 whereby a space is formed therebetween and the male coupling portion of a correlated attachment inserted thereinto. bosses 62-62v are formed on sleeve portion 6I and extend inwardly a suiiicient distance to slightly deforin said male portion as it is inserted therebetween, said bosses ten-ding to form said male coupling portion to a rectangular form whereby it will not readily turn or twist with respect to coupling portion 60. Since the rigid metal tube of hand-piece I hasa comparatively thin wall, a slight deflection thereof may be made without permanently deforming the same, said male portion assuming its normal cylindrical form after being withdrawn from contact with said bosses 62. One of the difficulties experienced during use of vacuum' cleaner attachments has been the loosening of the nozzle unit as one or 30 from the hand-piece as 5I, owing to a turning movement therebetween at the point of coupling, especially when the nozzle unit comes into contact with furniture or other articlesduring the cleaning operation. This diiiiculty is overcome by slightly deforming the male coupling portions of the hand-piece as 5I as it is inserted into engagement with the bosses 62-62, thereby preventing possibility of a turning movement relatively therebetween. The molded resilient sleeve portion 63 is locked 4against rotation by being molded into depressions or detents 64 produced when forming bosses 62 and is also locked against actual movement by enlarged annular portion 65 of rigid sleeve portion 6I. It will also be noted that the portion of bead IB extending downwardly into enlarged annular portion 65 has an opening of lesser diameter than the diameter of rigid sleeve portion 6I, said opening acting to form theair seal between coupling portions 60 and the male coupling portion of a correlatedattachment as 5I.

Inwardly proj ecting Referring to Fig. 10 showing an improved form of hand-piece or rigid tube attachment 5I to which vacuum cleaner units as I or 3B may be attached. Said unit comprises a rigid metal tube 43 having a male portion 44 which is slightly tapered at the lower end thereof, said tapered or conical portion `being inserted into the coupling portion as I9 `of unit I, the other end of said member having a female coupling portion 45 which coupling portion may be similar in form to that shown in Fig. 7 or Figs. 8 and 9, or may be of the formi shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and into which may be inserted the male coupling end 46 of the flexible tubular member or hose 41. The intermediate portion 49 of rigid tubular member 43 is covered by the resilient housing or tubular member 5Ia, having a bead 59 at each end thereof. When the coupling portion shown in Fig. '7 is employed the resilient housing 5Ia forms a substantial continuation of cylindrical sleeve portion and when the form of coupling shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is employed, saidresilient housing forms a substantial continuation of the resilient sleeve portion 63. Rigid tubular member 43 is of cylindrical form and is preferably made of metal. After units 5I and attachments as I or 30 are coupled together the space between lower bead 59 onA hand-piece 5I and bead I8 of nozzle unit Iis comparativelysmall and insufficient to permit ordinary protrusions of thev furniture or other room articles from entering therebetween as said coupled units are moved under chairs, dressers, bedsor the like.

If desired the extension tube or hand-piece 5I- may have male portions as 44 at each end thereof, or said hand-piece may have female coupling portions as 45 at both ends thereof.

It will be noted that by forming the light weight supports or frames as 2 or 10 in the manner shown, weight reducing openings are produced between the connecting or reenforcing members or portions 6, 1, 8, 9, of support I and similar members or portions 12, 13 and 16 of support 10, which openings are air sealed when said plastic material resilient housing or cover is molded thereonto.

It is also to be noted that said connecting or reenforcing members or portions, as 6, 1, 8, 9 of support I, and similar members or portions 12, 13 and 16 of support 1I), plastic housing molded thereunto will form,` an air tight suction chamber between the suction outlet and inlet openings of the improved. attachments as I and 30.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner attachment, a rigid skeleton support comprising an oriced coupling member adapted t0 receive a correlated attachment, an oriflced suction nozzle member and a plurality of rod-like connecting members arranged in skeleton-like chamber forming relation rigidly connecting said coupling and nozzle members in spaced relation, and a plastic material resilient housing in which said support is embedded extending between said coupling and nozzle member orifices and surrounding said connecting members for forming a suction type cih'amber between said orifices.

2f In a vacuum cleaner attachment, a rigid skeleton support comprising, a rigid coupling portion having a suction outlet opening adapted to receive a correlated attachment, a rigid suction inlet nozzle portion having a suctionV inlet opening, and a plurality of rigid portions arranged in skeleton-like suction chamber forming relation rigidly connecting said coupling and nozzle portions in spaced relation, and a plastic material resilient housing in which said support is embedded having one portion extending continously between said coupling and nozzle support portions for forming a suction tight chamber therebetween and another portion extending beyond said support nozzle portion for engaging a surface to be cleaned, said last named portion having a resiliency less than the resiliency of said first named housing portion.

3. In a vacuum cleaner attachment, a rigid skeleton support comprising, a rigid suction outlet coupling member having a suction outlet opening for attachment to al correlated attachment, a rigid suction inlet nozzle member having a suction inlet opening, and a plurality of rigid skeleton members rigidly connecting said coupling and nozzle members in skeleton-like spaced relation, and a, plastic material resilient housing` in which said support is embedded extending over said support continuously between said coupling and nozzle members, said resilient housing including a nozzle portion completely surrounding said nozzle member and having a surface engaging face for engagement with a surface to be cleaned.

OSCAR A. ROSS. 

